Tesla Superchargers Will Soon Work With GM EVs: What That Means for You
GM is adopting Tesla's charging standard. Here's how to use a Tesla charger via an adapter.
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General Motors will adopt Tesla's electric-vehicle charging standard, called the North American Charging Standard, GM CEO Mary Barra said Thursday. Barra announced the news in a Twitter Spaces conversation with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also owns Twitter and was CEO of the social network until Linda Yaccarino recently took over.
GM will incorporate the NACS connector design into its electric vehicles starting in 2025. The collaboration with Tesla also means GM EV drivers will have greater access to chargers as they will be able to use the 12,000 Tesla Superchargers located throughout North America beginning in early 2024. GM says its EV drivers currently have use of more than 134,000 chargers available through the company's Ultium Charge 360 initiative and mobile apps.
"This collaboration is a key part of our strategy and an important next step in quickly expanding access to fast chargers for our customers," Barra said in the statement. "Not only will it help make the transition to electric vehicles more seamless for our customers, but it could help move the industry toward a single North American charging standard."
Despite the agreements between GM, Ford and Tesla, however, the White House on Friday reportedly reiterated its February announcement that EV chargers must be universal and include CCS connections if they want to receive federal funding. A $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed in November 2021 set aside $7.5 billion to create 500,000 public EV chargers across the US by 2030.
General Motors recently announced plans to officially end production of its electric Chevrolet Bolt, which was the most affordable electric vehicle on the market when it was introduced in 2017. The Bolt made history as the first battery electric vehicle on the market for under $50,000 with a range of more than 200 miles. But after accounts of spontaneous fires involving its LG battery pack, the Bolt was subject to a complete recall, production was halted for the better part of a year, and in 2021, GM advised owners to park outdoors -- and at least 50 feet away from other vehicles -- "in the rare event of a potential fire."
If you're looking into buying an EV, you can read more about CNET's picks for the best electric cars and EVs for 2023, as well as every EV available in 2023, ranked by range and how almost any electric vehicle can qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit.
How to use Tesla chargers if you've got a GM EV
If you drive a GM EV, you'll need an adapter to use the Tesla Superchargers at first from early 2024. It's unclear how much an adapter will cost. Select Tesla Superchargers already have a "Magic Dock" that allows non-Tesla EVs to charge for a fee.
Beginning in 2025, the first GM EVs will include a NACS inlet for direct access to Tesla Superchargers without an adapter.
GM will then make adapters available for drivers of NACS-enabled vehicles to allow charging on the current industry standard, called CCS for Combined Charging System.
GM's announcement it will use Tesla's charging standard comes on the heels of a similar agreement made between Tesla and GM competitor Ford. That partnership was announced in late May.
CNET features a guide to home EV charging, plus a guide to 12 retail chains that offer EV charging while you shop and a look at how many EV charging stations the US offers.